This trip encapsulates the magic of Vietnam: the conservative north, the rich heritage of the imperial cities, coastal scenery and the vibrant life of Saigon and the Mekong Delta. We come face to face with an outgoing culture, where so much goes on in the streets: eating, washing, socialising, buying and selling or impromptu games. This intoxicating parade of Vietnamese daily life may leave us with our strongest memories, as much as the superb landscapes and amazing cuisine.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Hanoi.

The day is free to recover from the flight or stroll amongst broad tree-lined avenues dating from the French period. There is a faded colonial charm where baguettes and good coffee are sold from doorways of grand buildings of a past era. There will be a welcome briefing this evening with dinner at a local restaurant.See more images and videos

2Day 2City tour.

In Hanoi we take a sightseeing tour of the city this will include visits to the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Vietnam with over 2000 graduates; Hoa Lo Prison & the Old Quarter of the city with its '36 Streets' where each street is home to shops selling particular products - e.g. 'silk street', 'gold street', 'paper street' and 'naff souvenir street'. Another stop is the grounds of the Presidential Palace where Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the grand structure for symbolic reasons. We visit his traditional Vietnamese stilt house here. In the evening there is the option to enjoy a performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets.

We make an early start for the approximately 4-hour journey to Halong Bay. This is one of the most stunningly beautiful sights in South East Asia with roughly 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the clear emerald sea. We cruise amongst this amazing karst scenery and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. We overnight on board in twin share cabins with en suite facilities.See more images and videos

4Day 4Cruise; return to Hanoi; overnight train to Hue.

We continue to cruise around Halong Bay this morning before returning to port. We then drive back to Hanoi, and transfer to the train station and board the Reunification Express for the overnight train ride to Hue, 500km to the south.See more images and videos

5Day 5Arrive Hue; sightseeing.

This morning we arrive in Hue the cultural and historical centre of Vietnam, and there is plenty to see. Firstly we journey to the famous Thien Mu Pagoda. The pagoda was a centre for anti-government protest in the early 1960s and it houses the Austin car that transported a monk, Thich Quang Duc, to Saigon in 1963 where he burned himself as a protest against the president. The photograph of his self-immolation was printed in newspapers all around the world. We also visit the mausoleum of Tu Duc, one of the most extravagant mausoleums of the great Nguyen emperors who ruled Vietnam from Hue between 1802 and 1945.See more images and videos

6Day 6Morning visit local market.

This morning we will take a cycle ride out to the Thanh Toan bridge and a nearby local market. Travelling as the locals do on we discover the sights, sounds and smells of the villages surrounding Hue. Riding past rice paddies and small villages we arrive at Thanh Toan, a small village that is home to a legendary market. There will be time to explore the market stalls, before heading back to Hue for a free afternoon to further get to know this historical centre or to simpy relax by the riverside and absorb the local sights. The morning cycle is a leisurely ride on flat and mostly even terrain. Ride approx 15km.See more images and videos

7Day 7Journey to Hoi An via Danang.

Leaving Hue, our 130km journey drives through the beautiful peninsula of Lang Co between the crystal waters of a lagoon and the South China Sea, and then passes over the spectacular Hai Van pass ('Pass of the Ocean Clouds') where the views are stunning. In Danang we first stop at the Cham museum where there are altars, statues and decorative works collected from Hindu and Buddhist temples and towers from the Kingdom of Champa that flourished between the 7th to17th century in Central Vietnam. We then climb Marble Mountain where we explore the large caves which were used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. From the mountain peak, there are fantastic views over China beach and the surrounding countryside leading on to Hoi An where we spend the night.See more images and videos

8Day 8Walking tour of Hoi An; free afternoon.

This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-sixteenth century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant's houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around and enjoy the thriving riverside market and great silk, clothes shopping. If you have anything you want made up in mind, you should consider taking a picture of it along with you. This afternoon is free, one popular option is to jump on a bike for a ride through the countryside past local markets, schools and villages before continuing on to Cua Dai beach (5 km).

This morning we will visit My Son, the Cham civilisation's spiritual home, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. Although wartime bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are a number of interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Upon returning to Hoi An the rest of the afternoon is free to carry on enjoying this historic town.See more images and videos

10Day 10Fly to Saigon; walking city tour.

We drive to Danang and then fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand defiantly alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free market city where anything goes. Our hotel is in the heart of this incredible city. We include a visit to the Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum. The Museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. Please be aware that some images at the museum are very graphic.See more images and videos

11Day 11Visit Cu Chi Tunnels; free afternoon.

Today we leave the city behind us and head north to visit the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war the network covers 3 levels and approximately 240km of tunnels. Traditionally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine! In the afternoon we return to Saigon and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration.See more images and videos

12Day 12Mekong Delta; boat ride; overnight in homestay.

In the morning we drive to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, known as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam's fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to Cai Be. En route we pass many orchards and friendly locals also travelling by boat. We stop to see some small cottage industries such as rice paper and coconut candy, getting a chance to sample the local produce along the way. The evening is tranquil as we have dinner on an Island and enjoy some 'Delta' hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided.

This morning we take a walk through the fruit orchards and navigate our way through the small canals in a traditional wooden sampan. Later we rejoin our boat to rendezvous with our vehicle for the journey back to Saigon via a little visited Cao Dai temple used by devotees of this strange indigenous religion, which fuses all the great religions of east and west.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

12 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Arrival & departure transfers

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotel, Boat, Guesthouse & Sleeper Train

You will spend 10 nights in a comfortable hotel, 1 night aboard a night boat with shared cabins, 1 night will spent in a standard guesthouse all of these have en suite facilities and there is also a night aboard a sleeper train with soft berth cabins. All of the hotels have either fans or air conditioning.

Single rooms are available for a supplement, please enquire for prices. Please advise the sales team at the time of booking if you require a single room. The single supplement (10 nights) includes nights spent in hotels only.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Nearly all nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam, and this must be obtained prior to departure. For further information see the FCO website and look at 'Entry Requirements' under 'Vietnam'.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Diphtheria.
Malaria prophylaxis is suggested and we advise that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

This is a busy itinerary that visits the main highlights of Vietnam. We travel by private minibus and we take one internal flight to allow you to experience as much as possible of this beautiful and diverse county in a short space of time. You should be aware that there are some long travelling days on this trip. We use 3 star hotels throughout our tour. The weather can be hot and humid and cold in the winter months in the north around Hanoi and Halong bay. Some of the days can be fairly long and tiring and there is a large time difference.

Eating & drinking

12 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners included.

Food is cheap in Vietnam and you can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. Western food is readily available almost everywhere, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

The weather will be hot and humid throughout with temperatures during the day usually between 28degC and 34degC. It is only a little cooler at nights.

There is quite a range of seasons between the north and the south: the south up to Hue has a distinct dry season between December to April and then a rainy season from May to November when it tends to come in short heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between.

Hanoi is cool in autumn, and even gets chilly between November and February (with a drizzly rain). There is no ideal time to visit Vietnam; it is quite pleasant at any time of year, though due to the shape of the country it is unlikely that the weather will ever be perfect for the entire duration of any trip.

If you go to Cambodia for the Angkor Wat extension, the weather will be hot and humid all year round. The dry season is late October to May and the monsoon is normally between May and October; though there is an obvious transitional time between those settled periods. The dry season is as it sounds, with hot days and generally clear skies, though you can expect the odd shower.

The monsoon is characterised by short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day though this does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an umbrella or buy a cheap local poncho!

Gallery

Reviews & community

This was an inspiring holiday that took in the whole of Vietnam, North to South with experiences with the locals every day. Fairly fast paced on a couple of days but with down time on other days which was most welcome. So many experiences and the opportunity to travel by overnight train, stay on a boat at Halong Bay and with a host family at a hone stay in the Mekong Delta made this trip very special - thank you!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Halong Bay, the home stay in the Mekong Delta and our 3 day stay in Hoi An were all very special

What did you think of your group leader?

Our tour leader Bien Tran was exceptional- he always went above and beyond what we expected and nothing was ever too much trouble and he was incredibly knowledgeable

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We travelled from Hanoi all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City.
It was a great journey which enabled us the experience different sides of Vietnam.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Each day was special!
Halong Bay was magic and the overnight train journey to Hue was great fun!
Mekong Delta and the homestay was simply amazing.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our group leader (Bien Tran) was great!
He provided all the info needed, he was always on time and followed the trip schedule.
He was providing very useful info about the daily life in Vietnam and about the history of his country.
... last but not least, he was so funny and made the group bond so quickly!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Everything is really well organised and you have some free time as well to do your own things.
Just remember to "go with the flow" and enjoy!

This was an amazing holiday, so interesting and varied, a lovely country to see. Travelling from North to South, we saw so many different places and none like each other. Lovely food and hotels, also Homestay and a night on a boat which was lovely, and a very nice group to spend the two weeks with.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

It is impossible to pinpoint as there were so many inspirational moments - pretty Halong Bay and Mekong Delta, crazy and busy but interesting Saigon with the cyclotour which was great fun, the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels and various temples.

What did you think of your group leader?

Bien was a great leader, very interesting and a great sense of humour. Very enthusiastic and informative and managed not to lose anyone!!

Having spent her childhood on the family farm in Somerset, it was only natural that Diane would grow up seeking out wildlife tours. One of her most exciting experiences was on the Exodus Gorilla's & Masai Mara trip and next up she's looking forward to meeting the pandas in China! With over a decade's travel experience under her belt, Diane is happy to help you plan your perfect adventure holiday!

Before joining Exodus, Chris came out of back-packer retirement and spent two years tour leading in South America (trekking the Inca Trail 12 times!) and briefly in Morocco. He has also travelled extensively throughout North, South &amp; Central America, northern India, Egypt &amp; South Africa. He is now looking forward to seeing the world through the eyes of an Exodus traveller!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Any shopping tips for Vietnam?

There are some great local crafts you can buy throughout the trip, all hand made and very reasonable. For anyone interested in getting some clothes made, Hoi An is the place to do it. The local tailors can usually turn garments around in a a day or so, and you can pick up some bespoke items for a fraction of what they would cost at home. Just leave some room in your luggage!

Diane Knight - Sales

What vaccinations do you advise for South East Asia?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

What's the standard of accommodation like in SE Asia?

The hotels are of a very good standard, roughly comparable to a 2/3 star standard with air conditioning, spacious rooms and centrally located. Because certain areas have only opened up to tourism relatively recently, in the past 15 years or so, most of the hotels are newly built but in a traditional style. More remote areas can also have slightly more basic facilitiers, but these are usually more than compensated for by the location.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

How much do you spend on food in SE Asia?

On average, a lunch should cost no more than £3 and dinner up to £10 including drinks. The standard and quality of the restaurants is very good while still retaining a traditional ambience. In the more remote locations, it's amazing how the local people can prepare such delicious meals!

Diane Knight - Sales

Vietnam articles

Staff member Imran Arshad, recently travelled to Vietnam, and you can read his article here to get a personal viewpoint of the area.

Can I get a Vietnamese visa on arrival?

No, it must be gotten in advance. We suggest applying for the visa at least six weeks before departure. It is normally valid for 30 days and will ask for your entry and exit days. You can add the exact dates or, because you can use the whole 30 days, you can put the start date down as a week before you're due to get there and extend it for 30 days beyond that. This way you are covered in case there is any changes to your plans. Either way is fine.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

What is Vietnamese food like?

Like a lot of South East Asia, Vietnam meals consist mainly of rice, vegetables and frilled or stir fried meat. The staple dish is Pho, which is a noodle broth with veg and meat. You can buy it off many small roadside stalls very cheaply, as well as the more established restuarants you will be visiting during the trip. Due to the French colonial influence, another item you shouldn't miss is the fresh baguettes, filled with cheese, pate or meat, again available from small stalls in most towns.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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